Your startup’s TV debut postponed again? Here’s how to handle it

As any entrepreneur will tell you, startup life is full of unexpected obstacles. So how do you roll with the punches?

Surprise Ride, the D.C.-based startup offering monthly subscription boxes for kids, provided one example on Thursday night. After months of waiting (literally, many months) the company announced at the end of January that their appearance on the season finale of ABC’s Beyond the Tank was finally set to air.
Cofounders and sisters, Donna and Rosy Khalife, had been expecting this moment since September but, no matter, it was here. The stage was set, the venue booked, and they were ready to welcome friends and fellow entrepreneurs to a screening party.
But then came the Democratic Debate — the first Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders head-to-head, a big network television event, not to mention important to our civic lives.
So, once again, the Beyond the Tank screening was postponed. Over canceling the upcoming event, however, Donna and Rosy decided to host a D.C. startup debate watch party. “Come join us for a fun night of drinks and snacking on your favorite childhood foods, along with some chatter about how this election will affect the start-up culture and policies in the nation!” the invite declared.
And really, what’s more D.C. than that?

Setting up for tonight’s #SRDebate at @saufhausdc. Can’t wait to watch tonight's debate with the D.C. community! pic.twitter.com/zAx73GCaPW

— Surprise Ride (@SurpriseRide) February 5, 2016

So on Thursday night around 200 people descended on the Sauf Haus Bier Hall in Dupont Circle to watch the debate, eat grilled cheese and draw on the (paper) tablecloths with crayons. Surprise Ride also held a mock election of their own — apparently the gathered crowd was quite pro-Clinton.
All in all, it was a fun evening. Beyond that, however, it was also a good lesson in making the most out of those times when things don’t go exactly according to plan.

The Surprise Ride debate party election results. (Photo by Tajha Chappellet-Lanier)